Rail welding machine



Aug. 20, 1940.

w. DALTON RAIL WELDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet l M a- .I .inr k w is Attorney.

w. DALTON 2,212,393

RAIL WELDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I63 29 I 34a A Q In ventor: 86 a William Dalton,

lhs Attorney.

Aug. 20, 1940. w. DALTON RAIL WELDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 |4r Filed Oct. 29; 1938 Fig Inventor William Dalton 47 His Attorney.

Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE WELDING MACHINE William Dalton, Schenectady, N. Y.,' assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 29, 1938, Serial No. 237,713

10 Claims. (01. 219-4) My invention relates to butt welding apparatus Fig. 8 is a top view of the push-up mechanism of and more particularly to resistance butt-welding Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic representation apparatus. of the fluid control system for operating the It is an object of my invention to provide a clamping and push up mechanisms of Fig. 1; Fig. readily portable apparatus which is suitable for 10 is a view of a splatter guard and a flash re- 1 5 welding heavy sections. mover suitable for use with the apparatus shown It is a further object of my invention to proin Fig. 1. vide apparatus particularly suited for welding Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive, are illustrative of a rails together in order to provide a continuous modification of my invention, Fig. 11 being a side l0- rail of any desired length. A continuous rail of elevational view, Fig. 12 being a sectional view 10 thistype has many advantages. Rail end batter taken along the line 62-12 of Fig. 11, Fig. 13 is eliminated thereby decreasing track and rolling being an end view partly broken away, Fig. 14 stock maintenance, the first cost of the track being a cross sectional view taken along the line is lowered, bonding of track circuits is eliminated, i io F 11, Fig. 15 showing schematically 15 better conductivity is provided between rails so the control'arrangement for the modification ll- 15 that-less electric current is necessary for track lustrated in Figs 11 to 16, inclusive, and Fig. 16 circuits and less power is required to haul trains being a perspective view of certain d il Fis over' the track, and noise occasioned by the 17 and 18 are views of a second modification of train crossing the rail joints is eliminated thereby my invention, Fig. 18 being taken along the line 20 increasing passenger comfort. 18-!8 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a perspective view When; articles of irregular cross section such showing analternative form of app s f r as rails are butt welded it is necessary to tilt tilting one of the articles to be Welded. the articles with respect to each other so that In Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, I have shown a portthe welded article will be straight and not bent able rail welding apparatus adapted for flash 5 after the welding operation. Accordingly, it is welding abutting rails in the track of a railway another object of my invention to provide apsystem. The apparatus generally comprises an paratus for tilting at the proper angle one article I-beam it suppo e i a frame PD I 9 to be Welded with respect to the other article. eluding a horizontal section it and vertical sec- Still a further object is to provide improved tions i12- The Sec o N is P d With a a 3Q apparatus for supporting the articles during the 13' by means of which the machine as a whole welding operations. may be lifted from place to place through the Further objects and advantages of my invenagency of a crane, the heel; i l of which is illustion will become apparent as the following detrated in the drawings. A-pair of clamps 1E3 scription proceeds and the features of novelty. and i6 comprising jaws 11, it and 19, 2t, respecwhich characterize my invention will be pointed tively, are\ supported on the I-beam iii. 6021- 1 out with particularity in the claims annexed to tact blocks lla, Mia, and 19a, 290. are secured and forming a part of this specification. to the lower ends of the clamping jaws l1, in

For a better understanding of my invention and 99, 2%, respectively. Contacts, indicated reference may be had to the accompanying drawgenerally at 35 and 36a, shaped to fit the contour 40 ings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the article to be welded, are secured to the of one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a contact blocks. The jaws are pressed into en- 40 view in cross section taken along the line 2-2 gagement with rails 2i and 2511 by means of hyof Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is another cross sectional view draulic pressure applied through pistons 22 opof the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 1 taken along crating within clamping cylinders 23, 23a. In the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view in cross order to release the clamping action on the rail 45 section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and I have provided a set of releasing cylinders 24 showing the arrangement for tilting one of the and 24a in which pistons 25 cause rods 25 to articles to be welded with respect to the other separate the clamping ends of the jaws 11', 18 article; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view, taken and I9, 20, respectively;

along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and showing the In order to move the rails relatively to each 50 structure of the rail engaging contacts; Fig. 6 th r I have provided a push-up mechanism inis an enlarged perspective view of a flash cutter eluding a lever 21 pivotally supprted on the forming part of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 I-beam 10. One end of the lever 21 is recipro- 5: is a view in cross section of a detail of my invencated according to the direction of travel of tion taken along the line l-| of Fig. 1 or Fig. 8; piston 28 within push-up cylinder 29 which is 55 storage tanks 91 and 98 for containing the fluidv "to operate the clamping jaws and the push-up mechanism. Pumps 34 and driven by motors 34a and 35a, respectively, are provided for pumping the fluid to operate the pistons.

The clamps I5 and I6 are carried on the upper flange 31 of the I-beam III by ,means including guide blocks 38 and 39 suitably secured to the inner faces of jaws I8 and 28, respectively, as by welding. A groove is provided in the, underside of blocks 38 and 39, the groove being of such a shape as to fit over the upper flange 31 of the I-beam III. The contact block I8a which is suitably secured to the lower end of clamping jaw I8, as by welding, has an offset portion or guide 48 encircling the lower flange 4| of the I-beam III. The contact black 20a is similarly secured to the jaw 28' but is provided with a channel shaped extension 42 to which the lever 21 is pivotally secured and which extends on both sides of the rail 2Ia for a purpose to be described later.

Clamping cylinders 23 and 23a. are suitably secured as by welding to the upper end of the jaws I8 and 20, respectively. Pistons 22 adapted to reciprocate within the cylinders 23 and 23!; are

provided with piston rods 43 which are suitably attached to the movable jaws I1 and I9, respectively, thus supporting the movable jaws I1 and I9. Bores 43a through which rods 43 pass should be larger in diameter than rods 43 in order to permit the piston to rock on the surface of jaws I1 and I9 as will appear later. The contact ,blocks Ma and |9a are suitably secured to the.

lower end of movable jaws I1 and I9, respective-' ly, in any suitable-manner as by welding. The contacts 36- and 36a may be carried by the contact blocks in any suitable manner,'as by a .tongue and groove arrangement.

If desired, the tongue and groove "arrangement may be in the form of a dovetail in order to in- I sure that contacts 36 and 36a will remain in position with respect to contact blocks I11: and I8a when the clamping mechanism is not being used. It will be apparent that a different set of con tacts must be used for each different section to be welded so that the contacts will accurately fit the contours of the articles being welded. By means of this tongue and groove arrangement one set of contactsmay be substituted for another. simply by sliding the contacts 36 and 36a out of engagement with contact blocks I1a and I81; and sliding the new set of contacts into place.

The rod 26 of piston 25 reciprocating within the releasing cylinders 24 and 24a formed in the is slotted for engagement with the nut 44. The

outer end of each of the cylinders 24 and 24a is closed by a plate 46 suitably secured to the jaws I1, I9 respectively.

In order to assist in the clamping operation I have provided rectangularly shaped wedging rings 41 and 49'encircling the clamps I5 and I6,

respectively. The wedging rings 41 and 49 may be supported in the desired position by means of supports 48 attached at one end to the blocks 38 wedging rings and not against the frame.

wedging rings 41 and 49, respectively. Also, the

wedging rings may be welded or otherwise secured to the fixed jaws I 8, 28, respectively. A

removable counter-weighted wedge 58 is pivoted to each of the jaws I1 and I9 as indicated at 5| in Fig. 2 in order to bring the contacts 36 and 3641 into loose engagement with the rail. It will be noted that a portion of the inner surfaces of the wedging rings 41 and 49 are convex as indicated at 52 so that the jaws I1 and I9 may rock about the wedging rings 41 and 49. When fluid is admitted to the cylinders 23 and 230., the pressure developed forces pistons 22 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, against the action of springs 53. Since the jaws I1 and I9 are free to pivot about the convex surface of the wedging rings 41 and 49, respectively, the lower ends of the movable jaws I1 and I9 will be pressed toward the rails. It will be noted thatthe jaws are supported in such a manner as to react against one another through the agency of the It will also be observed that by means of this reaction the force developed in the cylinders 23 and 23a will be appliedf'to both :sides of the rail 2|. It will further be seen that by reason of the loose fit of rod 43 in bore 43a, piston 22 is permitted to reciprocate horizontally while jaws I1 and. I9 rotate about the wedging rings thereby preventing strains in rods 43.

In order to disengage theapparatus from the rails, the supply of fluid to the cylinders 23 and 23a is cut off and the cylinder connected to a fluid storage chamber as will be described at a later point. This release of pressure on the face of piston 22 permits the spring 53 to move piston 22 toward the right-end of the cylinder as viewed in Fig. 2. Fluid is next admitted to the cylinders 24 and 24a, the pressure built up therein causing pistons 25 and piston rods 26 to move to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby positively separating the contacts 36 and 36a, permitting the apparatus to be lifted from the rail.

The clamps I5 and I6 are similarly arranged except that the clamp I6 is slidable as will be more fully explained at a later point while the clamp I5 is not necessarily slidable. In order to permit motion of the clamp I6, as well as assembly of wedging ring 49 and clamping jaws I9, 28, a slot 54 is provided in the web of I-beam III. A similar slot 55 is provided in the web of I-beam ID to permit the assembly of wedging ring 41 and clamping jaws I1 and I8. In order to prevent a short circuit across the terminals 32' of transformers 3| it is necessary to insulate one of the clamps from the frame. This is most readily accomplished by insulating the stationary clamp I'5so as to eliminate any wear of the insulation during operation of the machine which might otherwise occur if the sliding clamp I6 were insulated. As shown in Fig. 2, a layer of insulation 56 is inserted between the upper flange 31 through a suitable aperture in the web of the for this variation in verticaldistance.

beam in. The shaft 59 is threaded at both ends to accommodate nuts 60 which are provided for securing the lever 21 in place. Each of the arms 58 is provided at the lower end with a slot 6i within which a block 62 is loosely fitted. The blocks 62 are pivotally secured to the extension 42 of contact block 2Da-.by means of bolts 63 which threadingly engage extension 92. The extension 42 is provided so that the push-up force I may be applied on both sides of the rail 2i it along the center line of the rail. The push-up cylinder 29, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is suitably journaled between the arms of a U-shaped support 64 which is secured in any suitable fashion to the upper flange of the beam in. Each arm of support 64 is slotted to receive lateral extensions 66 of cylinder 29 and bearings I69. Cover plates i6i secured by bolts I62 complete the journal assembly. Cylinder 29 is closed at both ends by plates I63 secured in engagement with the cylinder by means of bolts I64. A piston rod 'i'il extends from thepiston 28 through a bushing ii secured to one of the end plates H63. A reduced extension iila is provided on rod ill and passes through a hole in block 12, shoulder iiib of rod 'iil bearing against block 12. It will be noted that block i2 is pivotally supported be tween the upper ends of the levers 58 as best seen in Fig. 3. A nut 73 is secured to the reduced extension illa of the piston rod 19. It Will be apparent that any reciprocal movement of the piston 28 will be transmitted through the lever 21, contact block 29a, and contacts 36, 36a to the rail whenever clamp i6 is operatively engaged therewith. For example, suppose that the operating fluid is admitted to the cylinder 29 on the lefthand side of piston 28 as viewed in Fig. 1. As the pressure on piston 28 increases, the piston will be forced toward the right and the lever 271 will be caused to pivot about the shaft 59 inaclockwise direction thereby causing the contact block 20a. and therefore the rail Zia to be moved" to the left Conversely, if the operating fluid is admitted on the righthand side of the piston 28, the rail 21a will be moved toward the right. As lever 21 rotates about the shaft 59, the projected "vertical distance between the ends of .the arms 58 will decrease, and since cylinder 29 and contact block 20a are so arranged that they cannot have any vertical motion, some provision must be made To this end cylinder 29 is pivotally supported as described above so that it can follow the pivotal movement of lever 21 while the slot 6i and pivotal blocks 62 in the lower end of the arms 58 permits a slight reciprocating motion between the arms 59 and the blocks 62.

A set of contacts for carrying current between transformers 3| and the rails is illustrated in Fig. 5. Contacts 36 and 360, are shown engaging the rail Zia on opposite sides of the web thereof and are suitably secured to the back-up or contact blocks I90. and 20a, respectively, as by a tongue and groove arrangement. Contact 36a extends the full length of the contact mechanism and may be of a material such as beryllium copper alloy such as disclosed in Patent 1,957,214 dated August 31, 1933, issued to Edward H. Horstkotte and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Contact 36a may be integral with the terminal 32 as shown. The contact "36 engaging the opposite web of the rail Zia is composed of three sections 80, 8| and 82 which may be suitably attached to the back-up block I 9a as by a tongue and groove arrangement. Any

or all of these sections may be of the same material, as beryllium copper alloy, but preferably at least one section is of a hardened material such as hardened steel. As illustrated block 8i has been serrated in order to provide a good grip on the rail and minimize slipping of the contact. A similar pair of contacts engages rail 2i.

' It has been found that if objects of irregular cross section are butt welded, the articles will bend as the weld cools due to the different rates of contraction in the various portions of the article. For example, I have found that if a 131 pound rail is used, the rail must be tilted inch for each 3 feet of rail. The amount of tilt will be the same, of course, for each particular section. In Fig. 19, I have illustrated means to initially tilt one of the rails to be welded so that as the welded rail cools the rail will straighten out. I have shown a projection or tongue 36b on the side of contact 36a. for or recess 360 in contact block i8a. Contact 36 and block ila are similarly, arranged. The tongues are inclined at the proper angle to tilt the contacts 36 and 36a and rail Zia the desired amount.

The clamp i6 will be prevented from tilting because of the engagement of wedging ring 49 with the edges of beam iii. If it is desired to relieve the strain on the wedging ring, block 38 may be extended so as to encircle the upper flange of the I-beam. Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative means for initially tilting the rail 2ia the necessary amount with respect to rail 2i. Inclined wedges 14 are secured on opposite sides of the lower flange ii of the I-beam ill at one end of the beam. Fulcrum blocks 15 are provided on both sides of the lower flange at the opposite end of the contact block 2011. The fulcrum block 15 maybe formed in any desired shape such as a rounded rib of metal. I have interposed shims 16 on each side of the lower flange ll between the flange and the arms of contact block Zia. Inclined wedges W are provided on one end of the shims E5, the wedges ll being provided with reverse slopes as compared with the wedges 14 for slidably engaging the wedges i i. The opposite ends of the shims i6 aresupported on the fulcrum blocks 75. It will be understood that the above described arrangement is provided on both sides of the web of beam lil'so that, in the embodiment described, there are four wedges i l, four fulcrums i5, and four wedges i1. As best shown in Fig. 3, three shims it are used since the shim engaging the under side of beam i0 may be as wide as the lower flange and there is no web to be considered at this point. The outer ends of shims 16 are joined by a plate 18 by welding. The rlghthand end of the flange 4! of I-beam i9 is tapped and threaded to accommodate an adjusting screw 19 which passes through a suitable aperture in member it. As the adjusting screw i9 is moved inwardly, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 4, the shims l6 and therefore the wedges T! will be forced toward the left with respect to the wedges i4. Therefore, since the beam is fixed against vertical movement, the shims 76 will tend to move in aclockwise direction about the fulcrum blocks 15. This movement is transmitted through the contact block 20a. and the contacts 36 and 36a to the rail -2ia.- thereby tilting the rail 2i a with respect to rail 2i. It will be obvious that if the adjusting screw is moved in the opposite direction the righthand end of rail 2ia will be elevated with respect to the end engagement with a groove the slot 54 in the web of the I-- of the rail to be welded. Collar 19a is suitably attached to screw I9 for loosely securing screw I9 to plate I8. Since shims I6 move vertically with respect to the I-beam I9, I make the aperture in plate I8 large enoughto permit screw I9 to move vertically with respect to plate 18, thereby preventing stresses in the adjusting mechanism. The amount of tilting necessary to provide a straight rail after cooling is best determined by experiment.

In butt welding of the type where the abutting objects to be welded are first heated and then forced together, a certain amount of metal is upset at the joint thereby forming a bead. I have illustrated in Figs. 6 and 10 a device which is suitable for removing this bead. In the arrangement illustrated, cutters 83 and 89 for the top and bottom of the rail, respectively, have been provided. Obviously, if desired, cutters may be provided for the other surfaces. In order to prevent deposition of metal on the cutting edges during the welding operation, cutters 83 and 89 are removable. As illustrated, cutter 89 is suitably removably secured to the contact blocks I9a. and 29a as by a slot and key arrangement. The upper cutter 83 is held against the upper surface of the rail by means of bolts 85 which extend through the cutters 83 and 89, the lower ends of the bolts 85 being slotted for the reception of locking wedges 86. The forward edges of the tools 83 and 84 are notched as indicated at 83a to provide a cutting edge which will engage the bead 8'I at an angle with respect to the direction of the bead in order to gradually cut away the bead. Cutter 83 is made of such size that its rear surface engages the forward surface of contact block 29a. Therefore, during 'thepush-up operation the force necessary to trim the bead is transmitted to cutters 83 and 89 through blocks 29a and I 9a respectively and bolts 85 are not required to withstand any substantial horizontal forces.

A possible arrangement of a hydraulic system for operating the pistons associated with the welding apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 9. The pump 34 is connected by suitable conduits with cylinders 23 and 24 through a two-way valve 88 and with cylinders 23a. and 24a. through a twoway valve 89. The pump 35 is connected with push-up cylinder 29 by means of a two-way valve Assuming that the Y After pump 34 is started, in order to operate clamp I5, valve 88 is turned to direct the operating fluid from pump by way' of conduits 9I, 92, valve 88 and conduit 93-into the righthand end of cylinder 23 as viewed in Figs. 2 and 9. With this setting of valve 89, conduit 94 leading from cylinder 28 is put into communication with conduits 95 and 96 so that any fluid which remained in cylinder 29 after a previous operation of the clamping tongs I5 will be returned to the storage tank 91 by the pumping action and the move- .ment of the piston 25in cylinder 29 which is forced to the left during the clamping action, as will beapparent from Fig. 2, which tends to force the fluid toward storage tank 9'I.

In order to release the clamp I5, valve 88 is turned to the other position, in which case the flow from pump 34 will now trace a path through conduits SI, 92, valve 88 and conduit 99 into cylinder 29. At the same time a passage will be opened between cylinder 23 and storage tank 91 .through conduit 93, valve 88, conduit 95 and confluid to the storage tank. Valve 89 is connected in parallel with valve 88 so'that the operation of the clamp I5 will be similar to that described above and it is thought unnecessary to repeat the description. Pump 35 and storage tank 98 are associated with valve 99 and push-up cylinder 29. During push-up, valve 99 is turned so that operating fluid may flow from pump 35 through conduit 99, valve 99 and conduit I99 to the left end 'of push-up cylinder 29 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 9. During the push-up operation, any fluid remaining from the last operation of the apparatus passes from the right-hand end of cylinder 29 through conduit I9I, valve 99 and conduit I92 into storage tank 98. When it is desired to retract the push-up mechanism, valve 99 is turned to its other position in which position operating fluid is supplied from pump 35 through conduit 99, valve 99 and conduit IM to the right-hand'end of cylinder 29. With this setting of valve 99, any fluid in the left-hand side of the cylinder 29 will be withdrawn through conduit I99, valve 99 and conduit I92 into storage tank 98. Obviously, pumps 38 and 35 draw operating fluid from tanks 9'! and 98, respectively, through conduits I93 and I94, respectively.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, a very large amount of sparking and splashing of hot metal occurs in a welding operation such as that performed by the apparatus described above. In order to prevent a deposit of this metal on the lower-flange of the beam I9, I have provided a splatter guard I95 as illustrated in Figs. 1, 6 and 10. This. guard is adapted to be readily replaced, and may be of any suitable material. As illustrated, the guard I95 covers three sides of the lower flange II of the I-beam I9 and extends into the contact blocks I and 29a (see Fig. l) a suflicient distance to protect the I-beam. The recess in contact block 29a. must be cut back enough to receive the guard I during the pushup operation. To assist in adjusting the splatter guard I95 and maintain it in position, I provide a cover I96 therefor having handles I9I suitably secured thereto. The cover I96 is provided with projections which fit slots I98 as shown in Fig. 1, thereby holding the parts in assembled relation.

1' have' found that different types of rails or other objects to be welded require different amounts of'heating, and I have also found that difier'ent articles must be heated different distances back from the joint to be welded for best results. In ,order definitely to position the welding apparatus at the proper point I provide a stop I99 secured as by welding to the flange 9I of I- beam I9. By lowering the apparatus onto rails 2|, 2Ia so that stop I99 is aligned with the joint to be welded the welding machine will be accurately centered. I contemplate interposing a block I I9 of insulating material, as wood for example, between stop I99 and contact block I81;

in order to insulate clamp I5 from stop I99. A

second stop III is provided at the other end of clamp I5, the clamp being insulated from stop I I I by a block of insulating material I I2, as wood for example. Whenever the centering stop, I99 is used, the cover I96- for splatter guard I95 rlnlist be shaped to fit around stop I99 and block It will be apparent that practically the entire weight of the machine is localized on I-beam I9. To diminish the forces tending to buckle horizontal frame section II when the apparatus is 75 beam I so that part of the lifting force is translifted, I provide a strap I 58 joining section II and mitted to beam I0 through strap I58.

The operation of the embodiment of my invention described above will now be described. Assuming that the tilting mechanism has been adjusted and that the apparatus has been properly located with respect to the joint to be welded, wedges 50 are inserted between the wedging rings 41, 49 and movable jaws I'I, I9, respectively, thus directing the pairs of contacts 36 and 36a into engagement with the rails 2 I and 2 Id, respectively. Valve 88 is then turned to the position which will admit operating fluid to cylinder 23. Assuming that pump 34 is operating, fluid will be admitted to the cylinder 23 as descibed above, the hydraulic pressure developed therein forcing the piston 22 to the left as viewed in Fig. 2. The jaw II will be moved in a counterclockwise direction about surface 52 of wedging ring 4? as a pivot point. This action serves to clamp contacts 36 and 360. on the rail H.

The clamp I6 is next moved along the I-beam II] to the proper distance from the joint to be welded by means of the push-up mechanism 271 under control of valve 90 as previously described.

Theclamp I6 is next operated in a manner simi-' lar to that described in connection with clamp I5, valve 89 being operated for this purpose. The splatter guard is next secured in position. The welding transformers are then connected to a source of power following which valve 90 is operated to cause the push-up mechanism to move the rail, 2Ia into sparking engagement with the rail H. The rails are left in this position a sumcient time to adequately heat the metal at the joint, the proper length of time being determined by experiment. As soon as the proper temperature has been reached, the push-up mechanism is again operated to apply additional pressure to the joint and upset a portion of the metal at the joint, forming a bead 8'I. Following this operation the welding power is cut off, clamp I6 is loosened by operating valve 80 and the splatter guard I05 removed. In order to cut the flash, or bead, the flash remover is wedged into position and the push-up mechanism again advanced. Since clamp I6 is unclamped, the'contact blocks Ida and 20a will be advanced along the rail 2Ia so that the cutting tools 83 and M will be advanced into engagement with the bead or flash SI. After this operation, the clamps I5 .and I6 are opened, the flash cutter is removed and the machine lifted from the rail and advanced to the next joint to be welded. If desired, an automatic push-up may be used whereby the rail H is advanced slowly during the sparking engagement and then rapidly to complete the weld.

A modification of the above-described embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 11 to 16,inclusive. In this modification I have shown a horizontal frame H5 supported in a vertical frame IIG which is provided with a bail III by means of which the machine as a whole may be lifted from place to place through the agency of a crane, the hook II8 of which is indicated in the drawings.

' The frame I I6 is provided with two supporting shafts II9 upon which two pairs of clamping tongs or jaws I2! and I28 are supported. It will be noted that the clamping jaws are supportedon the shafts I I9 in such a manner that they react against one another through a clamping mechanism and not against the shafts 9 which serve only to support the jaws in the framework of the machine. 'I'hes'ejaws are pressed into engagement with the rail ends by hydraulic pressure applied through pistons I20 within cylinders HI and I2Ia supported in the clamping means encircling the lower portions of the jaws. It will be observed that pistons I20 are provided with guides I22 attached thereto and adapted to reciprocate in slots I23 provided in the inner wall of cylinders I2I and I2Ia. The pistons I20 are operated in one direction by fluid pressure admitted to the cylinders I2I through conduits I24 (Fig. 15) and the clamps are separated under the action of springs I25 (Fig. 14) located between the arms of each of the clamping jaws.

The clamping jaws I27 and I28 may be moved relatively to one another by a push-up mechanism including double acting piston I3I located in a casting I32 forming part of the horizontal frame II5. This piston acts through a pivotally supported vertical portion I33 of the vertical frame II 6 against the clamping mechanism of jaws I28 to move these clamping jaws relative to the fixed jaws IZ'I located at the other side of the vertical frame I III. The clampin jaws I28 are slidably mounted on flanges I35 forming part of the longitudinally extending members of the horizontal frame I0 and shaft H9.

The machine is adapted to be guided onto the rails being welded by centering plates I36 secured to cylinders I2! and I2Il1 and forming part of the clamping mechanism as shown, or in any suitable manner to the frame and having a configuration which causes the machine to be guided into position on the rails when lowered thereon. As shown in Fig. 16, ears I36a are provided on either side of the rail depending from a portion I361) of the plate I36. 7 One end of the machine is provided with a supporting wheel I31 which is adapted to engage one of the rails being welded and permit the apparatus to be moved along the rail without damaging the upper surface of the rail head.

In' order to prevent tipping of the apparatus a cross bar I30 is provided which is loosely mounted in a support I39 secured to the horizontal frame H5 at the opposite end of the apparatus from the wheel I31. The cross bar I38 may be moved laterally of the machine to a position in which clamps I40 located at one end thereof are adapted to engage a rail on the other side of the track. A drift pin MI and perforated bracket I IIa are provided to locate the machine relative to the joint to be welded, the position of the pin relative to the rail end being determined by experiment.

Welding current is supplied from transformers I26 suitably secured to clamps I 2'! as by brackets I29 and bolts I30, the transformers being connected in parallel by terminals I42 engaging the ends of the rail at the joint to be welded. The transformers I20 are protected, to a certain degree, from shocks caused by rough handling, by reason of the resiliency of spring I 25 between the arms of the clamping jaws.

The stationary clamp I2I is insulated from it supporting shafts H9 at M3, I40, I05, from horizontal frame II 5 at I46, and from vertical shaft H6 at I I'I. Pumping units I48 and I49 are provided for the clamping and push-up mechanisms, respectively, and the upper frame is divided into compartments I50 and I M for the storage of the fluid used in operating theclamp and push-up mechanisms, respectively. In Fig.

, 15 I have shown schematically a system for supthe mechanism. The operation is similar to that described above so that it will suflice to say at this point that pumping unit I48 and valves I58 and for circulating a cooling fluid as water from a suitable source through the members to be cooled.

It may also prove desirable to cool the transformers by circulating air thereover and a fan I53 is provided for this purpose, the air supplied by the fan being directed over the transformers from a conduit I56 A second modification of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18. The mechanism disclosed in these figures is similar to .the modification shown in Figs. 11 to 16 except that the apparatus is mounted on wheels I55 so that the apparatus may be transported along the track. Each set of wheels is provided with an hydraulic lifting cylinder I56 so thatwhen the apparatus is positioned at the joint to be welded, the wheels may be elevated about a pivot I51 thereby lowering. the clamping members for engagement with the rails.

While I have described my invention in connection with flash welding apparatus, it will be apparent that the above described apparatus is equally suitable for use with other forms of welding.

Furthermore, it will be obvious that, while I have described my invention as a rail welder, my-

invention is equallyapplicable for butt welding any heavy sections, as for example, pipes, rods,

and so on.

While I have shown my invention in connection with particular embodiments of a rail welder, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described and Iintend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

.1. Welding apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs of clamping jaws on said frame, an article engaging contact on each of said jaws, means acting on said jaws to force said contacts toward each other into engagement with the articles to be welded, means acting on said jaws to separate said contacts for releasing said articles, means to move said jaws longitudinally with respect to each other along saidframe for moving said articles into and out of abutting relationship,

other of said members away from said article for releasing the same, said clamping and releasing means to position said apparatus with respect to said articles preparatory to welding so that the ends of said articles extend beyond said contacts a predetermined distance, means for tilting one of said articles with respect tothe other of said articles, means to protect said frame from the metal-ejected from the weld during the welding operation, and means detachably secured'to certain of said contacts for removing the bead formed during the welding operation.

2. Butt welding apparatus comprising a pair of work holding member's arranged to support an article to be welded, means to move one of said members relatively to the other of said members forclamping said article therebetween and means to move one of saidmexnbers relatively to-the means being independent and each comprising a cylinder, a plunger therein and means to move said plunger in said cylinder.

3. Welding apparatus comprising a support, a plurality of pairs of clamping jaws carried by said support, each of said pairs of jaws including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, and each of said fixed jaws having a first guide in engagement with a portion of said support and.a second guide in engagement with a second portion of said support, a member encircling each pair of clamping jaws, cylinders secured to the upper ends of each of said fixed jaws, pistons arranged to reciprocate within said cylinders, piston rods attached to said pistons and engaging said movable jaws; wedges interposed between said encircling. members and said movable jaws whereby said movable jaws may be pivoted about said encircling members to press the lower ends of said movable jaws into engagement with the articles to be welded, cylinders associated with the lower ends of said movable jaws, pistons within said second mentioned cylinders having piston rods engaging said second guide, and

hydraulic means for operating one or the other of said pistons for selectively clamping or releasing said articles.

4. Butt welding apparatus comprising a frame, a pair of work clamping members carried by said frame, means for moving one of said clamping members relative to the other of said clamping members selectively to clamp and release an article to be welded, means encircling said clamping members, said clamping members acting against each other and reacting against said encircling'means whereby none of the clamping and releasing forces are transmitted to said frame.

5. Butt welding apparatus comprising a pair of work clamping members for supporting an article to be welded, a member encircling said pair of clamping members and acting as a fulcrum for pivotally supporting at least one of said members and means for moving said pivotally supported member relative to said other member selectively to clamp and .release said article to be welded.

6. Welding apparatus comprising a support, a plurality of clamping means on said support for clamping articles to be welded in abutting relation, and a wedge interposed between said support and one of said clamping means for tilting one of said clamping means and one. of said articles with respect to the other of said clamping means and the other of said articles.

7. Welding apparatus comprising a frame, two pairs of clamping jaws for clamping articles to be welded, said jaws being supported by said 'frame and one of said jaws having a portion encircling a portion of said frame, and a wedge interposed between said frame and said encir- 01mg portion for tilting one of said jaws and one of said articles held thereby with'respect to the other of saidjaws and the articles held thereby.

8. Apparatus for welding articles of irregular cross-section comprising a support, clamping ing a portion encircling the lower flange of said beam and means for tilting one of said articles with respect to the other of said articles whereby said articles will be properly aligned alter welding, said means including wedges located on opposite sides 01- said lower flange of said beam,

said beam whereby said second mentioned wedges slide on said first mentioned wedges to selectively raise or lower one end of said shims and thereby tilt said one of said clamping means.

10. Welding apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of work engaging clamps carried by said frame for holding articles to be welded, one of said clamps including a plurality of oppositely disposed jaws, means acting on said jaws to force said jaws toward each other and into engagement with one of said articles, each of said jaws including a contact member for engaging one of said articles and a contact supporting member, one of said members having a projection and the other of said members having a recess for receiving said projection, said projection and said recess being so disposed with respect to said members that said contact members associated with said one of said clamps and the article carried thereby are tilted with respect 

